The pair fled, Police Chief Robert Kugler said.
"Fortunately, she had the mindset to question the validity of the bogus problem -- and more importantly, didn't allow them into her home," he said.
The pair came to the Lanza Avenue house around 2:30 p.m., the chief said.
One "tried distracting her with a bogus story about a problem with the township water and needing to check the water in her home," while they other tried getting in through the back door, he said.
The pair fled when the woman became suspicious and called police, Kugler said.
She described both as white, 40 to 50 years old and about 5-foot-10.
One had a light to medium build and the other medium to heavy, she said.
Besides not allowing strangers in your house, "having the back door and other doors always locked is very important as well," Kugler said.
"These basic actions prevented her from becoming a victim of a home burglary -- and even bigger potential for being assaulted or worse," the chief said.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Saddle Brook-Elmwood Park and receive free news updates.